Bernard Lapasset, the chairman of the International Rugby Board, has announced that he will stand to be the next president of SportAccord, the umbrella organisation for more than 100 International Federations.
Lapasset has become the second individual to declare his candidacy, and will challenge International Judo Federation chief Marius Vizer for the role at the SportAccord Convention in Saint Petersburg at the end of May. The duo will battle to replace Dutchman Hein Verbruggen, the former head of the International Cycling Union, who has held the position since 2004.
Lapasset’s candidacy was confirmed by a nomination letter sent to SportAccord members as well as Verbruggen, SportAccord director general Vincent Gaillard and Jan Fransoo, the head of the presidential search committee, by IRB chief executive Brett Gosper.
In the letter, Lapasset’s achievements, such as his role as the president of the organising committee for the hugely successful 2007 Rugby World Cup, his previous leadership of the French Rugby Union and vice-presidency of the French Olympic Committee, and the continuing development of rugby union worldwide, were highlighted.